Located in downtown Boston by the Fort Point Channel

History of the Station Renovation of the Station (Costs) Effects of the Renovation (Benefits) Future Plans Conclusion –Beneficial Project Overview

On Site –Mike Brennan, Codman Real Estate –South Station Air Rights Project Update (Jan. 2002) State Transportation Library –MBTA Ridership and Service Statistics (1988, 1991, 2001) –South Station Improvement Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement (1981) –Boston South Station Revival (1989) –George Sandborne Boston Public Library –Photo Archives MIT –Prof. Fredrick Salvucci Sources

Before South Station –Multiple Railroad Stations –Need for Centralization Funding –5 private companies purchased $100,000 of stock each –$14.5 million in public bonds at 3.5% interest Expenses –35 acres of land: $9 million –City of Boston spent $2 million relocating roads and utilities –$3.6 million to build headhouse, trainshed and support buildings History

Opening Ceremonies, 1899 Early Facade

History 1904 –3,000 cars / day –150 tons of mail / day 1920s –Busiest rail station in the world –Served million riders / year World War II –Served 46 million riders in 1945

Mid-Century Slump –Removal of Train Shed in 1930 –Ridership plummeted after World War II Airplanes and automobiles Post Office took over most of head house by 1960 Catholic Chapel took over much remaining space Commuter rail service reduced Lunch counter and restaurant in head house closed. History

1959 – Old Colony Railroad ended service 1961 – New Haven Railroad went bankrupt 1964 – Post Office took over several tracks on south side of yard 1965 – South Station sold to Boston Redevelopment Authority for $6.95M 1970s – Demolition of southern section begun –Stone and Webster Building 1975 – Headhouse listed on National Register of Historic Places 1978 – MBTA bought South Station for $10M History

Condition of South Station Deteriorated buildings and tracks Outdated signals and switches Security problems

Alternative 1 – No build Alternative 2 – Maintenance Alternative 3 – Rehabilitation of the headhouse and track area Alternative 4 – 3, plus addition of 500 car air-rights parking Alternative 5 – 3 & 4, plus air-rights bus terminal and 800 car parking Alternative 6 – 3, 4, & 5, plus air-rights hotel/office/light industry development and expansion of parking to 2,000 cars Six Alternative Plans

Phase I –Renovate headhouse, update track work, add parking, add bus terminal, add foundations to support office tower –To be completed by 1985 Phase II –Office tower stories, 400,000 square feet, $40 million –Hotel tower 25 stories, 100,000 square feet, $60 million –Low Rise Development 2 stories, 250,000 square feet, $20 million –To be completed by 1990 Plan of Action

Ridership Increases –Amtrak: 1975:537,000 passengers / yr 1990:923,000 passengers / yr (projected) –Commuter Rail 1975:2,774,000 passengers / yr 1990:3,824,000 passengers / yr (projected) Air rights development –valuable real estate for offices and parking Anticipated Benefits

MBTA’s deal: –MBTA purchased property –Equity Office Properties develops commercial space inside headhouse –Equity runs facility and rents space to vendors –MBTA and Equity split profits evenly –Bus terminal is similar Greyhound, Peter Pan, Trailways, etc. rent space MBTA splits rental profits with operating company (Codman Real Estate) Anticipated Benefits

ServicePassengers / yrGross Estimated Spendings Total Intercity Rail3,023,000$2$6,046,000 Commuter Rail2,800,000$0.50$1,400,000 Intercity Bus3,376,000$1$3,023,000 Office Rental221,000 sqft$29.00$6,409,000 Profits divided evenly between Equity Office and MBTA, so total yearly revenue for MBTA = $8,439,000

Phase 1a –Headhouse and railyard were rebuilt –Foundations installed for development of air rights –Completed by 1989, 4 years behind schedule Phase 1b –Bus terminal and parking garage –Completed by 1995, 9 years behind schedule Results of Renovation

Ridership Increases –Amtrak: 1975:537,000 passengers / yr 1990:839,000 passengers /yr 2001:1,060,000 passengers / yr –Commuter Rail 1975:2,774,000 passengers / yr 1990:12,000,000 passengers / yr 2001:18,000,000 passengers / yr –Bus Terminal did not open until 1995 Actual Benefits

Actual Benefits ServicePassengers / yr (2001) Gross Estimated Spendings Total Intercity Rail839,000$2$1,678,000 Commuter Rail12,000,000$0.50$6,000,000 Intercity Bus0$1$0 Office Rental221,000 sqft$29.00$6,409,000 Profits divided evenly between Equity Office and MBTA, so total yearly revenue for MBTA = $7,043,500

Actual Benefits ServicePassengers / yr (2001) Gross Estimated Spendings Total Intercity Rail1,060,000$2$2,120,000 Commuter Rail18,000,000$0.50$9,000,000 Intercity Bus3,000,000$1$3,000,000 Office Rental221,000 sqft$29.00$6,409,000 Profits divided evenly between Equity Office and MBTA, so total yearly revenue for MBTA = $10,264,500

Phase II –Extend and connect bus terminal –Reclaim tracks from Post Office –Develop air-rights Current foundations allow 9-12 stories Minor modifications could allow 40+ stories Hines Responsibilities –Signal and track modifications ($2.2M) –Bus terminal completion ($6.9M) –Other miscellaneous ($17M) Future Development

City of Boston Linkage Payments –$11.9M to city City of Boston Property Taxes –Estimated $9M / yr Job creation –2,600 short term construction jobs –600 permanent service jobs –Office space for 6,000 permanent office employees, ideally located in Financial District Benefits to the City

New construction integrates with downtown Spurs expansion of bus terminal New office and apartment space keeps people downtown Intangible Benefits

Project was beneficial Commuter rail experienced tremendous increase in ridership Intercity rail increased slowly Bus terminal increases traffic through station, helps bus companies Traffic through station makes food court profitable Office space provides steady income Summary